Icelandic horses

Icelandic horses have developed from ponies taken to Iceland in the 9th and 10th centuries by Scandinavian settlers. Although Icelandic horses are small, at times pony-sized, most registries refer to them as horses.

A Icelandic horse usually weighs between 330 and 380 kilograms and stands at an average of 13 and 14 hands high. The Iceland breed are known for having well-proportioned heads, with straight profiles and wide foreheads. The neck is generally short and broad at the base whilst the back is long, muscular and slightly sloping.

Icelandic horses have short, strong legs and have a double coat for extra insulation in cold temperatures. Despite the breed being late-developers, they live long lives and retain their physical strength throughout.

The Icelandic breed is a gaited horse that displays two gaits in addition to the typical walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. Due to this, the Icelandic horse is known as a "five-gaited" breed, with the ability to cross rough terrain.